Why? Because there is duality to everything life.
Life has so many layers, if we began to peel each layer, like an onion, to find the final answer to it all, we would peel for an eternity.
I believe we are living the answer and the answer is the process of life itself. The problem lies in our perspective, engrained in us throughout our life. From the time we were young, we watched our parents working to attain some level of comfort, defined by the things they were able to buy, the balance in their bank account, and upon which rung they stood, on the social status ladder.
School taught us how to fall in line and follow the rules. For me, not so much. School taught me, there were ideas to challenge, and why do we need to know any of the mundane, boring facts, that only posed more questions for me. These were textbooks full of words that didn’t matter to me or if it did spark an interest, I would question every angle, putting me on the opposing side of the teacher’s desk, who would throw her hands up and send me to the principal’s office.
The only reason I made it to grade nine and one quarter of the way through grade ten was the respect I had for my English teacher. I didn’t want to let her down. English was the only subject that made sense to me. That is where ideas happened, could be expressed, or was delivered in books like, Little Women, or The Giver.
I have always been drawn toward anything obscure and mysterious, because I was on a quest, like Nancy Drew, whose books I devoured as a young girl.
What if they taught subjects in school that had real life value, such as:
· Personal Development, how to become the best version of yourself.
· Self-Discipline, how to focus and exercise moderation
· Strategic Thinking
· Planning for life and business
· Developing your intuition
· How to treat others the way you want to be treated
· Acceptance over Expectation
That would be the school I would start. That was the school of life I have lived from the time I left home at 16 years of age.
Several times in my adult life, I heard about budget cuts in the school system, and the Arts were considered “non-essential”, therefore, the first place they would cut funding. WTF! The arts should be the core foundation for all learning. This is where children learn to create, to think from the other side of their brains. Can you imagine a world without music?
The Wealthy Peasant draws from a life of duality, heartache, tragedy, triumph, success, and failure. I have lessons to share from a life lived as a homeless teenager, single mom, accidental entrepreneur, artist, award winning graphic designer, business coach, teacher, public speaker, and author.
I started this book over fifteen years ago, and I have known all along, the time would come, and the core message would be clear in my mind.
We never know how we impact another human being, and I’ve heard from many readers, my book has inspired them. The quest I began as a young woman is the Wealthy Peasant unfolding, each day, in new ways, with hope to make the world brighter for those who pick this up.
So, this book is dedicated to you. There are no accidents. You will see.
With love,
Shauna
